Page 12, Nov 30, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosome-Freho, Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, has appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to provide the Bosome-Freho District with its own office accommodation.
The district is among 60 districts (28 created in 2004 and 32 in 2008) which were recently created.
According to the MP, the assembly, which is facing a lot of challenges, is currently occupying an Information Communication Centre, thereby denying the people the use of the Internet facility.
Nana Ofori-Kuragu made the appeal when he posed a question in Parliament to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, asking when the assembly would be provided with offices at Asiwa.
Answering the question, Mr Chireh said the ministry had noted with concern the lack of infrastructure and logistics for the newly created districts.
He said in an effort to address the problem, the ministry conducted an inventory of the infrastructure and staff need of the assemblies, early this year.
Mr Chireh explained that following the exercise, a task team to work out some modalities for resourcing the newly created districts had been set up and expressed the hope that clear guidelines would be available for implementation by the end of the year.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic later, Nana Ofori-Kuragu said a number of projects had been done since he became the MP for the area in 2005.
He stated that a secondary-technical school had been established while a multi-storey dormitory block had been constructed for the school from his share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
The MP said besides the completion of the Bekwai-Asiwa-Bomfa Junction road which was 50 per cent complete, 12 more communities had been connected to the national grid.
Nana Ofori-Kuragu added that 300 students had been offered scholarships from his share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) while all the 90 communities in the area had received cement or roofing sheets for the maintenance of their school blocks.
He expressed the hope that the provision of an office accommodation for the district assembly would go a long way to strengthen the delivery of services of the staff of the assembly.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
This week in Parliament
Page 12, Nov 29, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT is expected to begin the debate on the 2011 Budget and Financial Statement of the government presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, last week.
The Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, made this known on Friday when he presented the Business Statement of the House for this week.
To deepen the understanding of the statement, Parliament had scheduled a post-budget workshop for leadership, chairpersons, ranking members of committees and committee clerks to ensure that they understood the policies behind the budget before the debate started.
According to the statement, the House is also expected to conclude the Consideration Stage of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, 2010 during the week and pass it.
In addition, three sector ministers are expected to appear before the House to answer three questions filed by Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, (NPP, Amenfi East) and Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP, Sunyani East).
Mr Ameyaw Cheremeh is expected to ask the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, what accounted for the postponement of the District Assembly elections originally slated for October 26, 2010.
He is also is expected to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, about efforts the government had made or is making to secure the release of and airlifting over 640 Ghanaians in detention in Libya for allegedly attempting to stowaway from Libya to Europe.
Mr Aidoo, for his part, is expected to ask the Minister of Road and Highway, Mr Joe Gidisu, what immediate measures being taken to remedy the Tarkwa-Wassa Akropong-Anyanfuri stretch of the Takoradi-Kumasi trunk road, which has deteriorated so badly.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT is expected to begin the debate on the 2011 Budget and Financial Statement of the government presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, last week.
The Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, made this known on Friday when he presented the Business Statement of the House for this week.
To deepen the understanding of the statement, Parliament had scheduled a post-budget workshop for leadership, chairpersons, ranking members of committees and committee clerks to ensure that they understood the policies behind the budget before the debate started.
According to the statement, the House is also expected to conclude the Consideration Stage of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, 2010 during the week and pass it.
In addition, three sector ministers are expected to appear before the House to answer three questions filed by Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, (NPP, Amenfi East) and Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP, Sunyani East).
Mr Ameyaw Cheremeh is expected to ask the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, what accounted for the postponement of the District Assembly elections originally slated for October 26, 2010.
He is also is expected to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, about efforts the government had made or is making to secure the release of and airlifting over 640 Ghanaians in detention in Libya for allegedly attempting to stowaway from Libya to Europe.
Mr Aidoo, for his part, is expected to ask the Minister of Road and Highway, Mr Joe Gidisu, what immediate measures being taken to remedy the Tarkwa-Wassa Akropong-Anyanfuri stretch of the Takoradi-Kumasi trunk road, which has deteriorated so badly.
A shocker for Parliament
Frontpage, Nov 27, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Ato Dapatem
MEMBERS of Parliament (MP) yesterday expressed shock and dismay at the death of the former MP for Ablekuma South, Theresa Ameley Tagoe, which occurred on Thursday, November 25, 2010, at the age of 68.
Madam Tagoe, who was the first Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), attended the then Krobo Girls’ School for her elementary education and moved to Aburi Girls’ Secondary School for her General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advanced levels. She was also a French scholar.
According to her elder brother, Mr James Tagoe, Madam Tagoe had her first degree at the University of Ghana, after which she founded the Agence D'or Secretarial Institute which offered training for the youth.
Described as an ‘Iron Lady’ in Ghanaian politics, Madam Tagoe contested the Ablekumah seat on the ticket of the NPP in 1992 but the party boycotted the parliamentary election that year.
However, she was able to annex the seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1996, 2000 and 2004 and voluntarily declined vying for the seat in 2008.
During the administration of former President J.A. Kufuor, the late Madam Tagoe was first made the Deputy Works and Housing Minister and later the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister.
She left behind two children.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Parliament House, the MP for Bantama, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, said the nation, the NPP and women in the country had lost a gem who did her work with passion.
“She lived and died for women, the country and the party,” she said.
The MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, said she was sad about the death of Ms Tagoe, whom she considered as a mother and mentor.
“She encouraged me when I decided to contest the Weija seat and assisted me to win,” Ms Botchwey said.
The MP for Abirem, Ms Esther Obeng-Dapaah, said she admired the late Madam Theresa for being an inspiration and vibrant person throughout her political career and expressed shock at her death.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Ato Dapatem
MEMBERS of Parliament (MP) yesterday expressed shock and dismay at the death of the former MP for Ablekuma South, Theresa Ameley Tagoe, which occurred on Thursday, November 25, 2010, at the age of 68.
Madam Tagoe, who was the first Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), attended the then Krobo Girls’ School for her elementary education and moved to Aburi Girls’ Secondary School for her General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advanced levels. She was also a French scholar.
According to her elder brother, Mr James Tagoe, Madam Tagoe had her first degree at the University of Ghana, after which she founded the Agence D'or Secretarial Institute which offered training for the youth.
Described as an ‘Iron Lady’ in Ghanaian politics, Madam Tagoe contested the Ablekumah seat on the ticket of the NPP in 1992 but the party boycotted the parliamentary election that year.
However, she was able to annex the seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1996, 2000 and 2004 and voluntarily declined vying for the seat in 2008.
During the administration of former President J.A. Kufuor, the late Madam Tagoe was first made the Deputy Works and Housing Minister and later the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister.
She left behind two children.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Parliament House, the MP for Bantama, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, said the nation, the NPP and women in the country had lost a gem who did her work with passion.
“She lived and died for women, the country and the party,” she said.
The MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, said she was sad about the death of Ms Tagoe, whom she considered as a mother and mentor.
“She encouraged me when I decided to contest the Weija seat and assisted me to win,” Ms Botchwey said.
The MP for Abirem, Ms Esther Obeng-Dapaah, said she admired the late Madam Theresa for being an inspiration and vibrant person throughout her political career and expressed shock at her death.
‘Govt subsidising 100,000 metric tons of fertiliser’
Page 13, Nov 26, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GOVERNMENT is subsidising 100,000 metric tons of fertiliser at an estimated cost of GH¢32million this year, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has disclosed.
Last year, the government subsidised a total of 72,795 metric tons of fertilisers at the cost of GH¢34.4million using the coupons system.
However, in view of the high administrative cost of printing the coupons and time spent by staff signing all the numerous coupons, as well as the associated abuse, the coupon system has been discontinued with effect from June, 2010.
A waybill receipt system is being employed for administering the fertiliser subsidy programme for 2010.
The Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, had filed a question enquiring from the minister why the fertiliser coupons were yet not ready for farmers to purchase subsidised fertilisers for the main season this year.
Mr Ahwoi said under the new system, the fertiliser companies were to deliver fertilisers to all districts for sale to farmers at the recommended prices as follows: NPK, GH¢27.00, SOA GH¢18.00 and Urea GH¢25.00.
He explained that farmers could easily have access to fertiliser by only walking into a shop and procuring them at subsidised prices without coupons.
Mr Ahwoi said the recommended subsidy would be paid to the fertiliser companies after sales upon the presentation and reconciliation of the accounts with the regional and district directors of agriculture.
Answering another question, the minister said in 2008, about 39 dams destroyed by the 2007/2008 flood in the Upper East Region were under rehabilitation with 24 of them being completed.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GOVERNMENT is subsidising 100,000 metric tons of fertiliser at an estimated cost of GH¢32million this year, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has disclosed.
Last year, the government subsidised a total of 72,795 metric tons of fertilisers at the cost of GH¢34.4million using the coupons system.
However, in view of the high administrative cost of printing the coupons and time spent by staff signing all the numerous coupons, as well as the associated abuse, the coupon system has been discontinued with effect from June, 2010.
A waybill receipt system is being employed for administering the fertiliser subsidy programme for 2010.
The Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, had filed a question enquiring from the minister why the fertiliser coupons were yet not ready for farmers to purchase subsidised fertilisers for the main season this year.
Mr Ahwoi said under the new system, the fertiliser companies were to deliver fertilisers to all districts for sale to farmers at the recommended prices as follows: NPK, GH¢27.00, SOA GH¢18.00 and Urea GH¢25.00.
He explained that farmers could easily have access to fertiliser by only walking into a shop and procuring them at subsidised prices without coupons.
Mr Ahwoi said the recommended subsidy would be paid to the fertiliser companies after sales upon the presentation and reconciliation of the accounts with the regional and district directors of agriculture.
Answering another question, the minister said in 2008, about 39 dams destroyed by the 2007/2008 flood in the Upper East Region were under rehabilitation with 24 of them being completed.
Cabinet approves decentralisation policy-Chireh
Page 13, Nov 26, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A COMPREHENSIVE Decentralisation Policy with an action plan has been approved by the Cabinet, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh has told Parliament.
Answering questions from the floor of the House, Mr Chireh explained that included an Inter-Governmental Fiscal Framework which had been costed and Inter-Ministerial Fiscal Co-ordination Committee on Fiscal Decentralisation.
The committee, according to the minister, would audit the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to determine their needs to enable the fiscal decentralization to take place.
The Member of Parliament for Agona East, Mr John Agyabeng had asked the minister when the fiscal decrentralisation agenda, which obliged district assemblies to embark on decentralized budgeting within the mediul-term would be operationalised.
He said the fiscal decentralization was more of a national, rather than district level challenge explaining that decentralization involved restructuring of public administration and public financial management arrangements.
Mr Chireh said the government considered the implementation of the district composite budget, improving local revenue generation, improving central government transfer systems and improving financial management of the MMDAS, among others as priorities.
He said it was obvious that these steps were fundamental to the implementation of fiscal decentralization.
Mr Chireh added that with the Fiscal Decentralisation Secretariat in place, the full implementation of the various initiatives, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning would be pursued vigorously next year.
Answering another question, Mr Chireh said the government recognized the numerous responsibilities assigned to the district assemblies, especially with the transfer of functions.
He said there were no immediate plans to increase the 7.5 per cent of national revenue which is paid annually into the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Mr Chireh explained that nevertheless, the ministry was considering other initiatives to ensure that the MMDAs got additional resources to carry out their responsibilities.
He said those initiatives included the development and implementation of the District Development Facility while proposals for the inclusion of Public-Privae Participation (PPP) in the management of some development activities of the MMDAs were being considered.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A COMPREHENSIVE Decentralisation Policy with an action plan has been approved by the Cabinet, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh has told Parliament.
Answering questions from the floor of the House, Mr Chireh explained that included an Inter-Governmental Fiscal Framework which had been costed and Inter-Ministerial Fiscal Co-ordination Committee on Fiscal Decentralisation.
The committee, according to the minister, would audit the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to determine their needs to enable the fiscal decentralization to take place.
The Member of Parliament for Agona East, Mr John Agyabeng had asked the minister when the fiscal decrentralisation agenda, which obliged district assemblies to embark on decentralized budgeting within the mediul-term would be operationalised.
He said the fiscal decentralization was more of a national, rather than district level challenge explaining that decentralization involved restructuring of public administration and public financial management arrangements.
Mr Chireh said the government considered the implementation of the district composite budget, improving local revenue generation, improving central government transfer systems and improving financial management of the MMDAS, among others as priorities.
He said it was obvious that these steps were fundamental to the implementation of fiscal decentralization.
Mr Chireh added that with the Fiscal Decentralisation Secretariat in place, the full implementation of the various initiatives, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning would be pursued vigorously next year.
Answering another question, Mr Chireh said the government recognized the numerous responsibilities assigned to the district assemblies, especially with the transfer of functions.
He said there were no immediate plans to increase the 7.5 per cent of national revenue which is paid annually into the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Mr Chireh explained that nevertheless, the ministry was considering other initiatives to ensure that the MMDAs got additional resources to carry out their responsibilities.
He said those initiatives included the development and implementation of the District Development Facility while proposals for the inclusion of Public-Privae Participation (PPP) in the management of some development activities of the MMDAs were being considered.
Debade on Petroleum Bill ends
PAGE 13, NOV 26, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved the Budget Statement and Financial Policy of the government for 2011 presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, on November 18, 2010.
That was after the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, had contributed to the debate and Dr Duffuor had winded it up.
The House was set agog when the two leaders contributed to the debate, which began on Wednesday, December 2, 2011.
So intense was the debate that the Speaker, Mrs Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, had to stick to her resolve not to allow points of order to ensure that the two leaders had a smooth debate.
When he took his turn, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was unfortunate that despite the favourable economic climate in 2009 and 2010, the government could not record the 7.3 per cent GDP growth the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration had achieved in 2008.
He said the much-talked-about low budget deficit and soaring foreign reserves were both a “hoax”, since the government was not spending, explaining that the total spending of the government over the last two years was less than what the NPP spent in 2008.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that the government was not ambitious enough in planning for an 8.3 per cent GDP in 2013 which fell below the rebased 8.4 per cent GDP that the NPP had chalked up in 2008.
He said even though the NDC promised to cut down tariffs during the 2008 campaign, it had ended up increasing road tolls and property rates and introduced new taxes to increase the tax burden on the people.
The minister said the NDC had not been able to implement the one-time premium payment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the GH¢200 million it promised to pay to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
“My Speaker, Ghanaians are now awake and will judge the NDC by its unfulfilled promises,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, adding, “By their fruits you will know them.”
For his part, Mr Avoka stated that the 2011 budget was a good one, since it was aimed at ensuring equity and fairness to address the imbalances in the system.
He disagreed with the notion by the Minority that the budget would bring about “fear and panic” among the business community, explaining that well-meaning economists, civil society organisations and the masses had all hailed it.
“If the budget was not a good one, how come that the Minority did not organise press conferences to point out its flaws as it had been doing year after year?” he questioned.
Mr Avoka said despite the oil find, the government would still give priority to the agricultural sector, saying that the good policies put in place over the last two years had ensured that nobody in Ghana went to bed hungry.
He said the budget only sought to widen the tax net and not increase taxes, as had been touted by the Minority.
Summing up the debate, Dr Duffuor stated that the NPP left behind an economy which was in “intensive care” but through the ingenuity of the NDC the economy was now stable and resilient.
He said though 2009 had come with some difficulties as a result of the economic mess created by the NPP, the government did not go HIPC.
“We used our ingenuity to get back on track with a deficit above 10 per cent,” he said, adding that more jobs would be created next year.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved the Budget Statement and Financial Policy of the government for 2011 presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, on November 18, 2010.
That was after the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, had contributed to the debate and Dr Duffuor had winded it up.
The House was set agog when the two leaders contributed to the debate, which began on Wednesday, December 2, 2011.
So intense was the debate that the Speaker, Mrs Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, had to stick to her resolve not to allow points of order to ensure that the two leaders had a smooth debate.
When he took his turn, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was unfortunate that despite the favourable economic climate in 2009 and 2010, the government could not record the 7.3 per cent GDP growth the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration had achieved in 2008.
He said the much-talked-about low budget deficit and soaring foreign reserves were both a “hoax”, since the government was not spending, explaining that the total spending of the government over the last two years was less than what the NPP spent in 2008.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that the government was not ambitious enough in planning for an 8.3 per cent GDP in 2013 which fell below the rebased 8.4 per cent GDP that the NPP had chalked up in 2008.
He said even though the NDC promised to cut down tariffs during the 2008 campaign, it had ended up increasing road tolls and property rates and introduced new taxes to increase the tax burden on the people.
The minister said the NDC had not been able to implement the one-time premium payment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the GH¢200 million it promised to pay to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
“My Speaker, Ghanaians are now awake and will judge the NDC by its unfulfilled promises,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, adding, “By their fruits you will know them.”
For his part, Mr Avoka stated that the 2011 budget was a good one, since it was aimed at ensuring equity and fairness to address the imbalances in the system.
He disagreed with the notion by the Minority that the budget would bring about “fear and panic” among the business community, explaining that well-meaning economists, civil society organisations and the masses had all hailed it.
“If the budget was not a good one, how come that the Minority did not organise press conferences to point out its flaws as it had been doing year after year?” he questioned.
Mr Avoka said despite the oil find, the government would still give priority to the agricultural sector, saying that the good policies put in place over the last two years had ensured that nobody in Ghana went to bed hungry.
He said the budget only sought to widen the tax net and not increase taxes, as had been touted by the Minority.
Summing up the debate, Dr Duffuor stated that the NPP left behind an economy which was in “intensive care” but through the ingenuity of the NDC the economy was now stable and resilient.
He said though 2009 had come with some difficulties as a result of the economic mess created by the NPP, the government did not go HIPC.
“We used our ingenuity to get back on track with a deficit above 10 per cent,” he said, adding that more jobs would be created next year.
Media must assist society to achieve growth — Avoka
PAGE 13, NOV 24, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Cletus Avoka, has called for an independent and vibrant media that strives to put the public interest first to assist society to accomplish its development objectives.
He stated that effective collaboration between the arms of government and the media was a sure way to ensure transparent governance that will benefit the people.
Mr Avoka made these comments in a speech he delivered in Accra to inaugurate the West Africa Parliamentary Press Corps (WAPPC).
WAPPC is a collaboration between the Ghana Parliamentary Press Corps and their Nigerian counterparts to bring all reporters covering the legislatures in the sub-region to share ideas and experiences to deepen parliamentary reporting.
Mr Avoka said organising the parliamentary press corps as a professional body to disseminate parliamentary proceedings in any fledgling democracy across the sub-region should be of paramount concern to any stakeholder.
“There is no doubt that a healthy media work enhances education, information and facilitation of community involvement in debates relating to the business of Parliament,” he asserted adding that the formation of WAPPC to champion that was in the right direction and called for its support.
He explained that it was through the reportage of parliamentary proceedings that the public’s ‘right to know’ could be effectively exercised in building an informed democracy across the sub-region.
Mr Avoka admonished those championing the formation of WAPPC not only to be content with the formation alone, but should also endeavour to share information across the sub-region on key parliamentary issues through seminars and exchange programmes to ensure that good governance and democracy were built on a solid foundation.
He advised journalists covering the legislature to listen to the concerns of the public since they could not be expert journalists or experts on the issues they cover unless they knew how the general public experienced what they were covering.
Mr Avoka said fulfilling the desires of the people of West Africa could be achieved through the building of a strong professional relationship based on mutual respect and recognition, which were actors in a working democracy.
He, therefore, called for the study of the Constitution, standing orders, parliamentary practice and procedures of each country within the sub-region thoroughly to ensure that the reportage of journalists covering the legislature could do so within the confines of the law and parliamentary democracy.
“You must also show more responsibility and not allow yourselves to be used by any individual or group to pursue self-agenda,” he said.
He noted that since the long standing watch-dog function of the media was more crucial now than ever, the role of the parliamentary press in making intelligent and unbiased decisions about news and information, was paramount to the functioning of a democratic society.
For his part, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, called on journalists not to use the power of their pens to disintegrate the fabric of the society.
He commended Ghana’s Parliamentary Press Corps for ensuring balanced reportage of proceedings of the House adding that since no condition was permanent, politicians should ensure a level playing field to promote the country’s fledgling democracy.
He pledged the support of parliament to the activities of the press corps since to him “the day the corps collapse, parliamentary democracy will also collapse”.
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Mr Ransford Tetteh, commended the corps for being very active over the years.
He said it was good that Africa had chosen the path of parliamentary democracy and called on journalist, especially those covering parliaments, to help in nurturing that democratic dispensation.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsuta/Beposo/Kwamang, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, who represented the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called on the media to work hard to ensure excellence in order to promote the development of the sub-region.
The Dean of the Ghana’s Parliamentary Press Corps, Mr Andrew Edwin Arthur, cautioned journalist not to allow mediocrity to take a better part of them by closing their eyes to the realities of their professional calling.
He said it was in that respect that the formation of WAPPC would strengthen the resolve of parliamentary reporters in the sub-region to adequately strengthen their position to hold governments accountable to their actions through the legislature in their respective countries.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Cletus Avoka, has called for an independent and vibrant media that strives to put the public interest first to assist society to accomplish its development objectives.
He stated that effective collaboration between the arms of government and the media was a sure way to ensure transparent governance that will benefit the people.
Mr Avoka made these comments in a speech he delivered in Accra to inaugurate the West Africa Parliamentary Press Corps (WAPPC).
WAPPC is a collaboration between the Ghana Parliamentary Press Corps and their Nigerian counterparts to bring all reporters covering the legislatures in the sub-region to share ideas and experiences to deepen parliamentary reporting.
Mr Avoka said organising the parliamentary press corps as a professional body to disseminate parliamentary proceedings in any fledgling democracy across the sub-region should be of paramount concern to any stakeholder.
“There is no doubt that a healthy media work enhances education, information and facilitation of community involvement in debates relating to the business of Parliament,” he asserted adding that the formation of WAPPC to champion that was in the right direction and called for its support.
He explained that it was through the reportage of parliamentary proceedings that the public’s ‘right to know’ could be effectively exercised in building an informed democracy across the sub-region.
Mr Avoka admonished those championing the formation of WAPPC not only to be content with the formation alone, but should also endeavour to share information across the sub-region on key parliamentary issues through seminars and exchange programmes to ensure that good governance and democracy were built on a solid foundation.
He advised journalists covering the legislature to listen to the concerns of the public since they could not be expert journalists or experts on the issues they cover unless they knew how the general public experienced what they were covering.
Mr Avoka said fulfilling the desires of the people of West Africa could be achieved through the building of a strong professional relationship based on mutual respect and recognition, which were actors in a working democracy.
He, therefore, called for the study of the Constitution, standing orders, parliamentary practice and procedures of each country within the sub-region thoroughly to ensure that the reportage of journalists covering the legislature could do so within the confines of the law and parliamentary democracy.
“You must also show more responsibility and not allow yourselves to be used by any individual or group to pursue self-agenda,” he said.
He noted that since the long standing watch-dog function of the media was more crucial now than ever, the role of the parliamentary press in making intelligent and unbiased decisions about news and information, was paramount to the functioning of a democratic society.
For his part, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, called on journalists not to use the power of their pens to disintegrate the fabric of the society.
He commended Ghana’s Parliamentary Press Corps for ensuring balanced reportage of proceedings of the House adding that since no condition was permanent, politicians should ensure a level playing field to promote the country’s fledgling democracy.
He pledged the support of parliament to the activities of the press corps since to him “the day the corps collapse, parliamentary democracy will also collapse”.
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Mr Ransford Tetteh, commended the corps for being very active over the years.
He said it was good that Africa had chosen the path of parliamentary democracy and called on journalist, especially those covering parliaments, to help in nurturing that democratic dispensation.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsuta/Beposo/Kwamang, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, who represented the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called on the media to work hard to ensure excellence in order to promote the development of the sub-region.
The Dean of the Ghana’s Parliamentary Press Corps, Mr Andrew Edwin Arthur, cautioned journalist not to allow mediocrity to take a better part of them by closing their eyes to the realities of their professional calling.
He said it was in that respect that the formation of WAPPC would strengthen the resolve of parliamentary reporters in the sub-region to adequately strengthen their position to hold governments accountable to their actions through the legislature in their respective countries.
House continues with debate on Oil Bill
PAGE 12, NOV 24, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A FORMER Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, has advocated the use of the country’s oil revenue for investments that will ensure that when the oil wells dry up, a new industry can help maintain the level of development that will be sustainable.
Prof Gyan-Baffour made the suggestion when he contributed to the debate on the Petroleum Oil Management Bill currently going on in Parliament.
“We must use our oil money to support and develop our industrial base for the production of light industrial goods so that our economy will no longer be under the constant threat of shocks from nature, such as drought and shocks from commodity markets such as falling prices of cocoa and minerals,” he said, adding that it was in doing so that the “oil find will become a real blessing to the country”.
Prof Gyan-Baffour explained that it was in that light that he was not in agreement with using the oil revenue to support the budget, as stated in clauses 19 and 22 of the bill and which was confirmed by the Minister of Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, when he presented the 2011 Budget.
The former deputy minister asserted that for effective utilisation, there was the need to focus on few sectors by providing for better education, better health care, better roads, better energy and better access to finance by the government and the private sector, all in support of the industrial transformation of the economy.
He agreed that the oil revenue should be kept in a separate account at the Bank of Ghana but urged that the account be used to create a separate fund outside the Consolidated Fund for the industrial transformation of the economy and not to be used for general budget support.
On the establishment of the Ghana Heritage Fund, Prof Gyan-Baffour stated that even though the idea was brilliant, it was premature, explaining that at this time when the country’s roads were bad, the power system in danger, among other social problems, the country should postpone the establishment of the fund for at least five years.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nabdam and Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Mr Moses Asaga, said the bill had come at the right time.
He said the government should be commended, since some countries which were seen as having best practices in the management of their oil revenue, such as Norway, did not put in place such a law at the initial stages of their oil production.
He said it was good for the Heritage Fund and the Stabilisation Fund to be endorsed as part of the bill.
Mr Asaga advocated the use of oil revenue as collateral, as against borrowing against the country’s reserves.
He said in the short term, the government wanted Ghana to move to the upper middle-income bracket by using resources accruing from the oil find.
“We want to make Ghana the Singapore of West Africa,” he said, and made a strong case by citing Brazil which used its oil to mobilise as much as $67 billion from the capital market for its development programmes.
For his part, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Oquaye, called for the consideration of the request of the chiefs of the Western Region for the allocation of 10 per cent of the oil revenue into a fund for the development of the region.
“The Western Region deserves a better treat,” he said, and advocated that wherever oil was found, some percentage of the revenue should be used for the development of that area.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A FORMER Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, has advocated the use of the country’s oil revenue for investments that will ensure that when the oil wells dry up, a new industry can help maintain the level of development that will be sustainable.
Prof Gyan-Baffour made the suggestion when he contributed to the debate on the Petroleum Oil Management Bill currently going on in Parliament.
“We must use our oil money to support and develop our industrial base for the production of light industrial goods so that our economy will no longer be under the constant threat of shocks from nature, such as drought and shocks from commodity markets such as falling prices of cocoa and minerals,” he said, adding that it was in doing so that the “oil find will become a real blessing to the country”.
Prof Gyan-Baffour explained that it was in that light that he was not in agreement with using the oil revenue to support the budget, as stated in clauses 19 and 22 of the bill and which was confirmed by the Minister of Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, when he presented the 2011 Budget.
The former deputy minister asserted that for effective utilisation, there was the need to focus on few sectors by providing for better education, better health care, better roads, better energy and better access to finance by the government and the private sector, all in support of the industrial transformation of the economy.
He agreed that the oil revenue should be kept in a separate account at the Bank of Ghana but urged that the account be used to create a separate fund outside the Consolidated Fund for the industrial transformation of the economy and not to be used for general budget support.
On the establishment of the Ghana Heritage Fund, Prof Gyan-Baffour stated that even though the idea was brilliant, it was premature, explaining that at this time when the country’s roads were bad, the power system in danger, among other social problems, the country should postpone the establishment of the fund for at least five years.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nabdam and Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Mr Moses Asaga, said the bill had come at the right time.
He said the government should be commended, since some countries which were seen as having best practices in the management of their oil revenue, such as Norway, did not put in place such a law at the initial stages of their oil production.
He said it was good for the Heritage Fund and the Stabilisation Fund to be endorsed as part of the bill.
Mr Asaga advocated the use of oil revenue as collateral, as against borrowing against the country’s reserves.
He said in the short term, the government wanted Ghana to move to the upper middle-income bracket by using resources accruing from the oil find.
“We want to make Ghana the Singapore of West Africa,” he said, and made a strong case by citing Brazil which used its oil to mobilise as much as $67 billion from the capital market for its development programmes.
For his part, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Oquaye, called for the consideration of the request of the chiefs of the Western Region for the allocation of 10 per cent of the oil revenue into a fund for the development of the region.
“The Western Region deserves a better treat,” he said, and advocated that wherever oil was found, some percentage of the revenue should be used for the development of that area.
Parliament ratifies Unit Committee Regulations
PAGE 12, NOV 24, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday adopted the report of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and ratified the Unit Committee Regulations, 2010 (C.I. 68).
By that, the number of members of the unit committees has been reduced from the current 15 to five to ensure more competitive district level elections in the country.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, who moved the motion for the adoption of the committee’s report, said the L.I. would make elections at the district level cost-effective, manageable and efficient.
“The committee is satisfied that the proposed instrument conforms to the requirements of the Constitution and relevant laws on the district level elections in the country,” he said.
He said it was for the purpose of ensuring consistency and conformity with the laws of the unit committee elections in the country that the instrument had been laid before the House.
Mr Osei-Prempeh said the instrument, apart from reducing the membership of the unit committees from 15 to five, also sought to liberalise the mounting of election platforms.
He said the committee noted that over the years there had been complaints by contestants of the unit committee elections in respect of the mounting of platforms.
He said the concern had been that the Electoral Commission had not been able to adequately offer platforms to candidates to communicate their messages to the electorates.
He said the liberalisation of platforms would, therefore, create a healthy competition necessary for the deepening of grass-root democracy and good governance.
The MP for Weija, Ms Sherry Ayorkor Botchwey, said the adoption of the C.I. was beneficial, since it would raise the electoral areas in her constituency, which is the largest in the country, from four to 22.
She said the Mallam Electoral Area, which has 98 polling stations, would now have 13 electoral areas, instead of one.
She said it was a good piece of news, as assembly members manning such big areas had suffered for far too long
Ms Botchwey stressed the need for the creation of more polling stations to encourage more people to vote during elections.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday adopted the report of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and ratified the Unit Committee Regulations, 2010 (C.I. 68).
By that, the number of members of the unit committees has been reduced from the current 15 to five to ensure more competitive district level elections in the country.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, who moved the motion for the adoption of the committee’s report, said the L.I. would make elections at the district level cost-effective, manageable and efficient.
“The committee is satisfied that the proposed instrument conforms to the requirements of the Constitution and relevant laws on the district level elections in the country,” he said.
He said it was for the purpose of ensuring consistency and conformity with the laws of the unit committee elections in the country that the instrument had been laid before the House.
Mr Osei-Prempeh said the instrument, apart from reducing the membership of the unit committees from 15 to five, also sought to liberalise the mounting of election platforms.
He said the committee noted that over the years there had been complaints by contestants of the unit committee elections in respect of the mounting of platforms.
He said the concern had been that the Electoral Commission had not been able to adequately offer platforms to candidates to communicate their messages to the electorates.
He said the liberalisation of platforms would, therefore, create a healthy competition necessary for the deepening of grass-root democracy and good governance.
The MP for Weija, Ms Sherry Ayorkor Botchwey, said the adoption of the C.I. was beneficial, since it would raise the electoral areas in her constituency, which is the largest in the country, from four to 22.
She said the Mallam Electoral Area, which has 98 polling stations, would now have 13 electoral areas, instead of one.
She said it was a good piece of news, as assembly members manning such big areas had suffered for far too long
Ms Botchwey stressed the need for the creation of more polling stations to encourage more people to vote during elections.
Oil money and Western demands COMMITTEE OPTS FOR STATUS QUO
Frontpage, Nov 20, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Joint Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Mines and Energy has made a strong appeal to the government to come up with a policy that will target the accelerated development of the Western Region.
The committee made the appeal after it failed to endorse the petition of the chiefs of the region for the ceding of 10 per cent of the expected petroleum revenue into a fund for the development of the Western Region.
“It is the view of the committee that ceding 10 per cent of the petroleum revenue to a fund for the Western Region may defeat one of the primary objectives of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, which is to avoid the ring-fencing of petroleum revenues,” it stated.
It explained that it was for that reason that acts establishing statutory funds, such as the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Roads Fund and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), did not apply to petroleum revenues.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, last Wednesday referred a petition by the Western Regional House of Chiefs to the committee for consideration as part of its report on the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
In its report, the committee acknowledged that even though the Western Region was endowed with many resources which had been used to support the development of the country over the years, it had suffered under-development for many years.
It, therefore, called for steps to be taken by the government to expedite the development of the region.
“It is also the considered view of the committee that other concerns of the chiefs of the region cannot be addressed by this bill,” the report said and recommended that due cognisance be given to those concerns in the consideration of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Bill, 2010 and the drafting of the local content policy.
The petition of the chiefs appealed to the House to, among other things, establish a Western Region Development Fund under the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill into which 10 per cent of the petroleum revenue would be paid.
The chiefs also called for the representation of the region on the Investment Advisory Committee, the Public Interest Accountability Committee, as well as all other governing bodies of institutions under the laws relating to oil and gas.
In addition, 10 per cent of the membership of the Oil and Gas Commission to be established should be indigenes of the region, while oil companies should be encouraged to employ and give business opportunities to indigenes of the region.
Furthermore, they called for the establishment of a fund to take care of any environmental disaster that might arise as a result of exploration and production activities.
Meanwhile, the Second Reading of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, which was to begin on the floor of the House yesterday, was deferred to Monday due to some concerns raised by the Minority.
Before the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekpeh, could move the motion for the second reading, the NPP MP for Essikado/Ketan, Mr Joe Ghartey, raised two concerns bordering on the Constitution and procedures.
He reminded the House that on November 12, 2010, the MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mr P.C. Appiah-Ofori, had raised a matter on the need for the House to deal with the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill before considering the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
Mr Ghartey referred to the Hansard of that day and stated that the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, had ruled that the leadership should consider the matter. He, therefore, wondered why that ruling had not been adhered to.
He also informed the House about Article 269 of the Constitution which called for the establishment of a commission to be responsible for the regulation, management and utilisation of natural resources, such as oil and gas.
In his ruling, Mr Adjaho said the Speaker had only made a suggestion to the leadership of the House to look at the concerns expressed by Mr Appiah-Ofori and had asked the House to continue with the debate on the bill and the Executive to bring a bill for the establishment of the commission in a reasonable time.
“Honourable members, it is my view that the motion must go on but the bill for the commission should be brought before the House within a reasonable time. We have been dealing with oil since time immemorial and I do not want us to believe that what we have done over the years was null and void,” he said.
Even though the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, called on the House to deal with the basic things before the utilisation of the oil revenue, Mr Adjaho insisted that they should start the process now and wait for the Executive to bring the other bill.
With that, Mr Tekpeh moved the motion for the second reading of the bill, but before anybody could second the motion, the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, appealed to Mr Adjaho to stand down the motion.
Mr Avoka said in the light of the latest development, and because the bill was of national importance, everybody should be brought on board.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Joint Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Mines and Energy has made a strong appeal to the government to come up with a policy that will target the accelerated development of the Western Region.
The committee made the appeal after it failed to endorse the petition of the chiefs of the region for the ceding of 10 per cent of the expected petroleum revenue into a fund for the development of the Western Region.
“It is the view of the committee that ceding 10 per cent of the petroleum revenue to a fund for the Western Region may defeat one of the primary objectives of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, which is to avoid the ring-fencing of petroleum revenues,” it stated.
It explained that it was for that reason that acts establishing statutory funds, such as the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Roads Fund and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), did not apply to petroleum revenues.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, last Wednesday referred a petition by the Western Regional House of Chiefs to the committee for consideration as part of its report on the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
In its report, the committee acknowledged that even though the Western Region was endowed with many resources which had been used to support the development of the country over the years, it had suffered under-development for many years.
It, therefore, called for steps to be taken by the government to expedite the development of the region.
“It is also the considered view of the committee that other concerns of the chiefs of the region cannot be addressed by this bill,” the report said and recommended that due cognisance be given to those concerns in the consideration of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Bill, 2010 and the drafting of the local content policy.
The petition of the chiefs appealed to the House to, among other things, establish a Western Region Development Fund under the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill into which 10 per cent of the petroleum revenue would be paid.
The chiefs also called for the representation of the region on the Investment Advisory Committee, the Public Interest Accountability Committee, as well as all other governing bodies of institutions under the laws relating to oil and gas.
In addition, 10 per cent of the membership of the Oil and Gas Commission to be established should be indigenes of the region, while oil companies should be encouraged to employ and give business opportunities to indigenes of the region.
Furthermore, they called for the establishment of a fund to take care of any environmental disaster that might arise as a result of exploration and production activities.
Meanwhile, the Second Reading of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, which was to begin on the floor of the House yesterday, was deferred to Monday due to some concerns raised by the Minority.
Before the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekpeh, could move the motion for the second reading, the NPP MP for Essikado/Ketan, Mr Joe Ghartey, raised two concerns bordering on the Constitution and procedures.
He reminded the House that on November 12, 2010, the MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mr P.C. Appiah-Ofori, had raised a matter on the need for the House to deal with the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill before considering the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
Mr Ghartey referred to the Hansard of that day and stated that the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, had ruled that the leadership should consider the matter. He, therefore, wondered why that ruling had not been adhered to.
He also informed the House about Article 269 of the Constitution which called for the establishment of a commission to be responsible for the regulation, management and utilisation of natural resources, such as oil and gas.
In his ruling, Mr Adjaho said the Speaker had only made a suggestion to the leadership of the House to look at the concerns expressed by Mr Appiah-Ofori and had asked the House to continue with the debate on the bill and the Executive to bring a bill for the establishment of the commission in a reasonable time.
“Honourable members, it is my view that the motion must go on but the bill for the commission should be brought before the House within a reasonable time. We have been dealing with oil since time immemorial and I do not want us to believe that what we have done over the years was null and void,” he said.
Even though the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, called on the House to deal with the basic things before the utilisation of the oil revenue, Mr Adjaho insisted that they should start the process now and wait for the Executive to bring the other bill.
With that, Mr Tekpeh moved the motion for the second reading of the bill, but before anybody could second the motion, the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, appealed to Mr Adjaho to stand down the motion.
Mr Avoka said in the light of the latest development, and because the bill was of national importance, everybody should be brought on board.
It'll scare investors, says Minority
Frontpage, Nov 19, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has described the 2011 Budget and Economic Policy of the government presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning yesterday as "wicked", "anti-private sector development" and "fear and panic" budget.
Even though the usual inscription on sheets of paper to convey their sentiments about budgets was absent, an interview with some members of the Minority showed their disapproval of the budget in general and the introduction of taxes in particular.
The Majority, however, debunked assertions by the Minority and explained that the budget would bring hope to Ghanaians after the government had used the past two years to repair the economic mess it inherited.
A former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and NPP MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, said, "the budget is not a good one. There was nothing new with the exception of introduction of taxes".
He noted that with the introduction of seven different taxes, Ghanaians should expect more difficulties next year than what they experienced this year.
Dr Osei said anytime such taxes were introduced, "the government is causing fear and panic among investors and the general populace".
A former Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi, Professor Yaw Gyan-Baffour, bemoaned the insensitivity of the government, explaining that Ghanaians were already stressed up after going through a lot of difficulties under the NDC’s two-year misrule.
"Ghanaians are suffering and do not need more taxes. Why does the government want to increase the load on the already suffering Ghanaians?" he queried.
The NPP MP for Kwabre East, Mr Kofi Frimpong, stated that all projects that were mentioned in the budget were initiatives of the Kufuor administration and accused the Mills's government of running out of ideas after "promising Ghanaians the moon".
He explained that the budget could be described as anti-private sector because royalties that were paid by mining companies quarterly were now going to be paid monthly while the introduction of other taxes in the tourism sector would gradually kill the hotel business.
Mr Frimpong observed that it was the intention of the government to impose taxes on churches when Dr Duffuor mentioned that the activities of certain non-governmental organisations would be taxed.
"Why are we trying to put more impediments in the way of the private sector when the government has touted its resolve to make the private sector the engine of growth. Why are we taking away the oil that will lubricate the engine of the private sector to stimulate the kind of growth that we envisage?" he questioned.
The NPP MP for Ayensuano, Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, said there was nothing impressive about the 2011 budget, reiterating the fact that there were no new policies.
He said if the NDC did not have anything new for Ghanaians, then it was unfortunate that Ghanaians gave the party the mandate to rule.
He argued that it would have been better if the NPP had been allowed to continue with the policies the party initiated rather than offering the NDC the chance to change the policies.
Mr Aye-Paye observed that the removal of vehicle income tax was just a mere propaganda since the imposition of the repressive road tolls was rather severely affecting the road transport business.
The NPP MP for Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Richard Akuoko Adiyia, said the government could not boast of stability and growth while interest rates were still high.
He said it was only when interest rates were lowered that the private sector would be encouraged to borrow from the banks to expand their businesses and create jobs for the youth.
The NPP MP for Okaikoi North, Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, said it was unfortunate that after two years in office, the government was still struggling to find its feet.
She said even though prices of gold and cocoa had gone up, such gains had not been used to embark on more projects to benefit the people.
Mrs Sackey stated that not much was being done in the education sector, explaining that the provision of few school uniforms alone was not sufficient when the school feeding programme was gradually collapsing.
The Minister of Transport and NDC MP for Effutu, Mr Mike Allen Hammah, however, maintained that the budget would bring more hope to Ghanaians, assuring them that the new initiatives would encourage the private sector to do more to increase employment.
He explained that the taxes that had been introduced were well thought-out and would not affect the ordinary people in the country.
He assured Ghanaians that as stated in the budget, the rail lines would be rehabilitated and modernised to ensure easy and affordable transportation in the country.
The NDC MP for Juabeso, Mr Sampson Ahi, commended the government for working tirelessly to clear the economic mess that was left behind by the NPP administration.
"Let us give the government a chance to continue to implement its sound economic policies, which have already yielded positive results," he said.
Mr Ahi called on Ghanaians to support the government since it had proved that it was up to the task entrusted to it by the good people of the country.
The Majority Chief Whip and NDC MP for Nkwanta South, Mr Geshon Gbediame, said there was no doubt that the NDC government had been able to put the economy on a right path.
He, however, advised that if the government was poised to use the agriculture sector to stimulate growth and provide jobs, then efforts should be made to create ready market for farm produce to encourage the youth to take to agriculture.
Mr Gbediame expressed the hope that the eastern corridor road would be rehabilitated as expressed in the budget statement to ensure easy access to regions in the northern sector of the country through the Volta Region.
The NDC MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, argued that now that the economy had been stabilised, the government would be able to implement policies outlined in the 2011 budget in order to create jobs.
He said policy initiatives such as the rehabilitation and modernisation of the railway sector would go a long way to create jobs rather than the unsustainable National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) that was created by the Kufuor administration.
The PNC MP for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, noted that every government had good intentions for its people and called on the government to rigorously implement policies outlined in the budget to achieve results.
He called for massive improvement in the road sector, stressing that roads in his constituency were not good.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has described the 2011 Budget and Economic Policy of the government presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning yesterday as "wicked", "anti-private sector development" and "fear and panic" budget.
Even though the usual inscription on sheets of paper to convey their sentiments about budgets was absent, an interview with some members of the Minority showed their disapproval of the budget in general and the introduction of taxes in particular.
The Majority, however, debunked assertions by the Minority and explained that the budget would bring hope to Ghanaians after the government had used the past two years to repair the economic mess it inherited.
A former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and NPP MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, said, "the budget is not a good one. There was nothing new with the exception of introduction of taxes".
He noted that with the introduction of seven different taxes, Ghanaians should expect more difficulties next year than what they experienced this year.
Dr Osei said anytime such taxes were introduced, "the government is causing fear and panic among investors and the general populace".
A former Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi, Professor Yaw Gyan-Baffour, bemoaned the insensitivity of the government, explaining that Ghanaians were already stressed up after going through a lot of difficulties under the NDC’s two-year misrule.
"Ghanaians are suffering and do not need more taxes. Why does the government want to increase the load on the already suffering Ghanaians?" he queried.
The NPP MP for Kwabre East, Mr Kofi Frimpong, stated that all projects that were mentioned in the budget were initiatives of the Kufuor administration and accused the Mills's government of running out of ideas after "promising Ghanaians the moon".
He explained that the budget could be described as anti-private sector because royalties that were paid by mining companies quarterly were now going to be paid monthly while the introduction of other taxes in the tourism sector would gradually kill the hotel business.
Mr Frimpong observed that it was the intention of the government to impose taxes on churches when Dr Duffuor mentioned that the activities of certain non-governmental organisations would be taxed.
"Why are we trying to put more impediments in the way of the private sector when the government has touted its resolve to make the private sector the engine of growth. Why are we taking away the oil that will lubricate the engine of the private sector to stimulate the kind of growth that we envisage?" he questioned.
The NPP MP for Ayensuano, Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, said there was nothing impressive about the 2011 budget, reiterating the fact that there were no new policies.
He said if the NDC did not have anything new for Ghanaians, then it was unfortunate that Ghanaians gave the party the mandate to rule.
He argued that it would have been better if the NPP had been allowed to continue with the policies the party initiated rather than offering the NDC the chance to change the policies.
Mr Aye-Paye observed that the removal of vehicle income tax was just a mere propaganda since the imposition of the repressive road tolls was rather severely affecting the road transport business.
The NPP MP for Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Richard Akuoko Adiyia, said the government could not boast of stability and growth while interest rates were still high.
He said it was only when interest rates were lowered that the private sector would be encouraged to borrow from the banks to expand their businesses and create jobs for the youth.
The NPP MP for Okaikoi North, Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, said it was unfortunate that after two years in office, the government was still struggling to find its feet.
She said even though prices of gold and cocoa had gone up, such gains had not been used to embark on more projects to benefit the people.
Mrs Sackey stated that not much was being done in the education sector, explaining that the provision of few school uniforms alone was not sufficient when the school feeding programme was gradually collapsing.
The Minister of Transport and NDC MP for Effutu, Mr Mike Allen Hammah, however, maintained that the budget would bring more hope to Ghanaians, assuring them that the new initiatives would encourage the private sector to do more to increase employment.
He explained that the taxes that had been introduced were well thought-out and would not affect the ordinary people in the country.
He assured Ghanaians that as stated in the budget, the rail lines would be rehabilitated and modernised to ensure easy and affordable transportation in the country.
The NDC MP for Juabeso, Mr Sampson Ahi, commended the government for working tirelessly to clear the economic mess that was left behind by the NPP administration.
"Let us give the government a chance to continue to implement its sound economic policies, which have already yielded positive results," he said.
Mr Ahi called on Ghanaians to support the government since it had proved that it was up to the task entrusted to it by the good people of the country.
The Majority Chief Whip and NDC MP for Nkwanta South, Mr Geshon Gbediame, said there was no doubt that the NDC government had been able to put the economy on a right path.
He, however, advised that if the government was poised to use the agriculture sector to stimulate growth and provide jobs, then efforts should be made to create ready market for farm produce to encourage the youth to take to agriculture.
Mr Gbediame expressed the hope that the eastern corridor road would be rehabilitated as expressed in the budget statement to ensure easy access to regions in the northern sector of the country through the Volta Region.
The NDC MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, argued that now that the economy had been stabilised, the government would be able to implement policies outlined in the 2011 budget in order to create jobs.
He said policy initiatives such as the rehabilitation and modernisation of the railway sector would go a long way to create jobs rather than the unsustainable National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) that was created by the Kufuor administration.
The PNC MP for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, noted that every government had good intentions for its people and called on the government to rigorously implement policies outlined in the budget to achieve results.
He called for massive improvement in the road sector, stressing that roads in his constituency were not good.
Sunyani Senior High marks Golden Jubilee
Page 18, Nov 19, 2010
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
ME Man Nti, Enye Me Nti, to wit, ‘It is because of my country and not myself’, is the motto of the Sunyani Senior High School, formally Sunyani Secondary School (SUSEC), which is 50 years this year.
On November 27, this year, this great school will hold a grand durbar at the school.
The school has earned the accolade “Brong Ahafo University” because of the role it has played over the years in the training of the human resource of the region.
Even though this writer is not an old student of the school, as a journalist from the region working in Accra he considers it his cherished duty to let the achievements of the school known to the world.
SUSEC is one of the products of the Ghana Education Trust set up by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to put up school buildings throughout the country to promote education and bring it to the doorstep of the people.
On October 2, 1958, Dr Nkrumah, then the Prime Minister of the country, cut the sod to start the building of the school, while on September 12, 1959, the then Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr Kojo Botsio, laid the foundation stone for the school.
A year later, precisely on Friday, September 30, 1960, the first batch of 36 students, comprising 31 boys and five girls, were admitted and they started academic work on Monday, October 3, 1960. There were two classes, Form 1A and Form 1B. The first school prefect was Master Paul Achereko.
On December 13, 1960, Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah officially inaugurated the school at a very colourful ceremony held in front of the school’s administration block. Even though the school began as a co-educational institution, a decision was taken to make it a boys’ school, with the girls being transferred to the Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Secondary School in Kumasi. That decision was, however, reversed a year later to enable girls to be re-admitted into the school.
Mr P.D. Quartey, who is described as “a bold sportsman and adventurer”, was the first headmaster of the school. He was said to have come from Accra to Sunyani, then a remote area, to start the school, with his staff made up of three teachers and nine non-teaching staff. They did a yeoman’s job to lay the foundation of the school. Mrs Paulina Yeboah (nee Ayim) was the first House Mistress and it is gratifying to note that she is still alive in Sunyani while the school prepares to organise its Golden Jubilee Anniversary.
Academic work was not easy for the pioneer students as a result of the highly inadequate teaching staff, some of whom did not have any high academic qualification and experience, in addition to inadequate facilities. But notwithstanding these drawbacks, the first batch of 63 students, made up of 61 boys and two girls sat for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level Examination in 1965 and since then SUSEC had not looked back academically.
The symbol of SUSEC is the elephant, selected from the name Sunyani, which is a corrupt form of ason dwae (the place where elephants killed by the hunter, Boahen Korkor, the founder of Sunyani, were skinned). Mr Quartey coined the motto of the school, Me Man Nti, Enye Me Nti, from a speech delivered by Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah during which he quoted a Latin phrase meaning “a man was not born only for himself but his country”.
By the motto, Mr Quartey hoped that any time old and current students quoted the motto, they would be fired up by the spirit of patriotism that was demanded of all Ghanaians and also die a little for the school.
It is gratifying to note that SUSEC today is a great institution with the present administration, led by the energetic and foresighted Headmaster, Mr Joseph Awuah, systematically building on the foundation laid by past heroes and transform the school into a dynamic and formidable academic haven for students who want to make a headway in life.
According to the headmaster, “Even though the school faces a lot of impediments to progress, SUSEC in a relatively short period of 50 years, had taken the lead in education in the region and confidently and successfully rubs shoulders with the long established schools throughout the country.”
The number of teaching staff has increased from four to 71, while the non-teaching staff had grown from nine to 83. The initial student population of 36 now stands at 1,783. It can now also boast a well-stocked library, a well-equipped Computer Laboratory with Internet facilities, a French Language Centre, a Language laboratory, a projector room, among other facilities.
As its contribution to education in Ghana, 12,529 students have passed through the school since its inception. They are grouped as follows: GCE Ordinary Level students, 4,213; Advanced Level students, 2,020; senior secondary school students, 6,296. Currently the school is pursuing courses in General Arts 1, General Arts 2, General Arts 3, Business, Science, Agricultural Science, Visual Arts and Home Economics.
SUSEC has achieved success in many fields of endeavour, including sports, science competitions and quiz. Academic results have been excellent, with the students scoring 99.8 per cent in 2005 and 100 per cent in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
In spite of these achievements, the school faces many challenges which should be addressed immediately to enable it to operate at its maximum. For instance, the school needs a modern computer laboratory, a well-equipped Visual Arts Block and bungalows to accommodate teachers posted to the school. Out of the 71 teaching staff, only 20 have accommodation on the compound. There is also the need to complete the ultra-modern 2,000 capacity assembly hall complex, which is a Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) project.
As the school celebrates its Golden Jubilee, it is the hope that efforts will be made to provide it with the necessary facilities to enable it to increase its intake and provide excellent tuition and extra curricular activities to enable its student to come out well moulded to fit into the fast-changing world.
SUSEC, Ayekoo, and may your students and staff live according to the tenets of your patriotic motto wherever they find themselves. Me Man Nti, Enye Me Nti!
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
ME Man Nti, Enye Me Nti, to wit, ‘It is because of my country and not myself’, is the motto of the Sunyani Senior High School, formally Sunyani Secondary School (SUSEC), which is 50 years this year.
On November 27, this year, this great school will hold a grand durbar at the school.
The school has earned the accolade “Brong Ahafo University” because of the role it has played over the years in the training of the human resource of the region.
Even though this writer is not an old student of the school, as a journalist from the region working in Accra he considers it his cherished duty to let the achievements of the school known to the world.
SUSEC is one of the products of the Ghana Education Trust set up by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to put up school buildings throughout the country to promote education and bring it to the doorstep of the people.
On October 2, 1958, Dr Nkrumah, then the Prime Minister of the country, cut the sod to start the building of the school, while on September 12, 1959, the then Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr Kojo Botsio, laid the foundation stone for the school.
A year later, precisely on Friday, September 30, 1960, the first batch of 36 students, comprising 31 boys and five girls, were admitted and they started academic work on Monday, October 3, 1960. There were two classes, Form 1A and Form 1B. The first school prefect was Master Paul Achereko.
On December 13, 1960, Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah officially inaugurated the school at a very colourful ceremony held in front of the school’s administration block. Even though the school began as a co-educational institution, a decision was taken to make it a boys’ school, with the girls being transferred to the Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Secondary School in Kumasi. That decision was, however, reversed a year later to enable girls to be re-admitted into the school.
Mr P.D. Quartey, who is described as “a bold sportsman and adventurer”, was the first headmaster of the school. He was said to have come from Accra to Sunyani, then a remote area, to start the school, with his staff made up of three teachers and nine non-teaching staff. They did a yeoman’s job to lay the foundation of the school. Mrs Paulina Yeboah (nee Ayim) was the first House Mistress and it is gratifying to note that she is still alive in Sunyani while the school prepares to organise its Golden Jubilee Anniversary.
Academic work was not easy for the pioneer students as a result of the highly inadequate teaching staff, some of whom did not have any high academic qualification and experience, in addition to inadequate facilities. But notwithstanding these drawbacks, the first batch of 63 students, made up of 61 boys and two girls sat for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level Examination in 1965 and since then SUSEC had not looked back academically.
The symbol of SUSEC is the elephant, selected from the name Sunyani, which is a corrupt form of ason dwae (the place where elephants killed by the hunter, Boahen Korkor, the founder of Sunyani, were skinned). Mr Quartey coined the motto of the school, Me Man Nti, Enye Me Nti, from a speech delivered by Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah during which he quoted a Latin phrase meaning “a man was not born only for himself but his country”.
By the motto, Mr Quartey hoped that any time old and current students quoted the motto, they would be fired up by the spirit of patriotism that was demanded of all Ghanaians and also die a little for the school.
It is gratifying to note that SUSEC today is a great institution with the present administration, led by the energetic and foresighted Headmaster, Mr Joseph Awuah, systematically building on the foundation laid by past heroes and transform the school into a dynamic and formidable academic haven for students who want to make a headway in life.
According to the headmaster, “Even though the school faces a lot of impediments to progress, SUSEC in a relatively short period of 50 years, had taken the lead in education in the region and confidently and successfully rubs shoulders with the long established schools throughout the country.”
The number of teaching staff has increased from four to 71, while the non-teaching staff had grown from nine to 83. The initial student population of 36 now stands at 1,783. It can now also boast a well-stocked library, a well-equipped Computer Laboratory with Internet facilities, a French Language Centre, a Language laboratory, a projector room, among other facilities.
As its contribution to education in Ghana, 12,529 students have passed through the school since its inception. They are grouped as follows: GCE Ordinary Level students, 4,213; Advanced Level students, 2,020; senior secondary school students, 6,296. Currently the school is pursuing courses in General Arts 1, General Arts 2, General Arts 3, Business, Science, Agricultural Science, Visual Arts and Home Economics.
SUSEC has achieved success in many fields of endeavour, including sports, science competitions and quiz. Academic results have been excellent, with the students scoring 99.8 per cent in 2005 and 100 per cent in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
In spite of these achievements, the school faces many challenges which should be addressed immediately to enable it to operate at its maximum. For instance, the school needs a modern computer laboratory, a well-equipped Visual Arts Block and bungalows to accommodate teachers posted to the school. Out of the 71 teaching staff, only 20 have accommodation on the compound. There is also the need to complete the ultra-modern 2,000 capacity assembly hall complex, which is a Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) project.
As the school celebrates its Golden Jubilee, it is the hope that efforts will be made to provide it with the necessary facilities to enable it to increase its intake and provide excellent tuition and extra curricular activities to enable its student to come out well moulded to fit into the fast-changing world.
SUSEC, Ayekoo, and may your students and staff live according to the tenets of your patriotic motto wherever they find themselves. Me Man Nti, Enye Me Nti!
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